Collapsible and extensible luggage carrier



Feb. 2, 1954 KUDA 2,668,061

COLLAPSIBLEG AND EXTENSIBLE LUGGAGE CARRIER Filed March 23, 1953 IN VEN TOR.

2 [h /4M 'i) Patented Feb. 2, 1954 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE AND EXTENSIBLE LUGGAGE CARRIER 7 Claims. 1

My invention relates to luggage carriers which are adapted for transporting and moving luggage to various places.

An important object of my invention is to pro-,- vide a luggage carrier of the aforementioned character which has a platform for supporting a piece of luggage, and swivel caster means at the termini of leg means which are arranged and disposed in triangular formation so as to provide a leading caster and a pair of trailing casters.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a luggage carrier of the aforementioned character which is equipped with extension means enabling the luggage carrier to accommodate smaller or larger pieces of luggage thereon. V

A still further object of my invention is to provide in a luggage carrier of the aforementioned character telescoping leg means to permit extensibility and retractability thereof in order to adapt the said luggage carrier, giving it a greater degree of luggage accommodation when necessary.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a luggage carrier of the aforementioned character in which the tripod or triangularly arranged legs supporting the same are equipped with universal swivel caster means.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a luggage carrier of the aforementioned character adapted to be collapsed, to assume a small volume of space when not in use.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a luggage carrier of the aforementioned character in which the leg means are maintained in collapsed or inoperative position by virtue of spring-like clip means, the said leg means being articulately secured to bracket means, being also spring-urged into engagement with the said spring-like clip means when the device is collapsed to inoperative position.

A still further object of my invention is to provide in a luggage carrier of the aforementioned character strap holding means secured to the bottom of the main support or platform of the luggage carrier, the said strap means being equipped with suitable buckle means adapted to encircle pieces of luggage of varied volumetric dimensions. I

A still further object of my invention is to provide a luggage carrier of the aforementioned character which is simple in construction, practical for its uses and operation, and of such simple elemental construction as to permit economical manufacture thereof in quantity production.

Other objects and ancillary advantages inherent in my invention will become apparent from an examination and perusal of the accompanying drawings, bearing further expository elucidation in the ensuing description, the'various elemental structures thereof being designated by like numerical designations in all the views, in which;

Fig. 1 is a front view of my invention shown with a piece of luggage placed thereupon.

Fig. 2 is an end View of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view looking at the bottom of Fig. 1, showing the legs thereof in collapsed position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken, substantially, on the lines 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a top view of the luggage oarriershowing the extensible and retractable means for accommodating larger pieces of luggage.

Fig. 6 is an end View showing the base or support of the luggage carrier and the extensible and retractable means supporting a larger piece of luggage such as a trunk.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of one of the legs andcasters secured thereto, showing how the same is retracted to inoperative position.

Fig. 8 is an enlargement of the articulate knee structure, permitting the collapsibility of the leg element.

Fig. 9 is an end view of Fig. '8.

Referring to the various views my invention is generally designated l0, and consists of a base or platform II to which are secured the retaining straps l2 which are firmly attached at the bottom of the platform II as indicated at 24'. The said straps l2 are provided with suitable buckles l3 and are adapted to be adjustable so as to encircle pieces of luggage M of various volumetric configurations.

The luggage 14, after it is secured on the platform H by the straps l2, may be motivated or moved about, as well as manipulated by virtue of the handle l5 thereof. To the platform I I are secured a single leading leg I6 and a pair of trailing legs ll, each provided with telescopical ly extensible tubular elements 18, so that the same can be adjusted for height and stability.

The termini of the telescoping legs l3 are equipped with universally swivelable casters l9, so that the same can be motivated on asurface 20, thus eliminating the need for carrying heavy luggage in depots and such other places, and permitting the individual to move his luggage about with the least eifort, inasmuch as theluggage carrier renders the luggage pieces mobile, or readily movable about fromplace to place.

The luggage carrier may be collapsed to the position shown in Fig. 3, where it would occupy the least amount of space, and for that purpose a clip-like spring element 23 is provided, and a pair of clip-like spring elements 22 adapted to hold in inoperative or retracted position respectively the legs l6 and the legs 11. The luggage carrier platform II is also provided with transverse slotted recesses 26, in which are mounted the extensions bl'which are hingeably secured at 25 to attaching plates 28, so that the same may be retracted to inoperative position as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. The extensions 2? when collapsed do not project above 'the' top surface of the platform I I, yet when extended they will accommodate larger pieces of luggage :such as trunk 34.

The leg structure consists of a bracket -35,

which is riveted or likewise secured as indicated at 36 to the bottom of the platform I l. The said securing bracket 35 is provided with an anchorihg pin 30, the legs it, as illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, being equipped with an anchoring pin 3!, for anchoring the spring 32. The leg It is provided with an arcuately rounded portion '23 to permit articulately moving the leg 16 "about the "pivot 2| and being rigidly held in place by virtue of the bracket portion "31. The leg F6 may be collapsed and held firmly in place by the clip-like spring element 23 h'ereinbefore mentioned and described.

In Fig. 8 it will be noted that the spring element 32 has a tendency to become extended when "the leg i6 is motivated in the'directio'nof its releasable attachment by the clip-like spring element 23. In other words, the spring 32 is'a'n auxiliary aid in maintaining the knee structure bent to the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 7, and likewise exerts its tensile Strength to maintain the leg element It firmly against the portion 31 when the same is set to operative position. It will be noticed that the legs and I1 radiate outwardly from the mooring position or the brackets 35, and are provided with the rounded ends 29 and the cut-out portion 38, so as to permit the same to rotate freely and not hamper the spring 32 in its operation. The knee action operates within the confines of the arcuate ambit, indicated by arrows 33.

Although the drawings and the above specification disclose the best modes in which I have contem lated embodying my invention, I desire to be in no way limited to the details of such disclosure, for in the further practical application of my invention many changes in the form and construction thereof may be made as circumstances require or experience suggests without departing from the spirit of the invention as expounded within the soope of the appended claims.

Having thus described and revealed my invention, what 'I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 7

1. Collapsible and extendible luggage carrier means, comprising a luggage supporting platform, a pair of adjustable straps secured adjacent each end of the said platform and adapted to encircle and confine luggage of varied dimensions, leg supporting bracket means secured to the bottom of the said plat'form, leg means articulately secured to the said bracket means and arranged to diverge outwardly from the center of the said base and disposed in triangular forma tion, swivel casters attached to the termini of the said leg means, slotted transverse recesses-on the top surface of the said platform, and hinged extensions secured in the said recesses adapted to be extended to increase the width of the said platform for supporting a greater number of pieces of luggage.

2. Collapsible and extendible luggage carrier means, comprising a luggage supporting platform, a pair of adjustable straps secured adjacent each end of the said platform and adapted to encircle and confine luggage of varied dimensions, leg supporting bracket means secured to the bottom of the saidpla'tform, telescopic leg means articulately secured to the said bracket means and arranged to diverge outwardly from the center of the said base and disposed in triangular formation, swivel casters attached to the termini of the said leg means, slotted transverse recesses on the top surface of the said platform, and hinged extensions secured in the said recesses adapted to be extended to increase the width of the said platform for supporting a greater number of pieces of luggage.

3. Collapsible and extendible luggage carrier means, comprising a luggage supporting platform, a pair of adjustable straps secured adjacent each end of the said platform and adapted toencircle andconfine luggage of varied dimensions, leg supporting bracket means secured to the bottom of the said platform, leg means articulately secured to the said bracket means and arranged to diverge outwardly from the center of the said base and disposed in triangular formation, swivel casters attached to the termini of the said leg means, spring clip means secured adjacent the central portion of the said platform and adapted to releasab'ly maintain the said leg means in collapsed position, slotted transverse recesses on the top surface of the said platform, and hinged extensions securedin the said recesses adapted to be extended to increase the width of the said platform for supporting a greater number of pieces of luggage.

4. Collapsible and extendible luggage carrier means, comprising a luggage supporting platform, a pair of adjustable straps secured adjacent each end of the said platform and adapted to encircle and confine luggage of varied dimensions, leg supporting bracket means secured to the bottom of the said platform, leg means articulately secured to the said bracket means and arranged to diverge outwardly from the center of the said base and disposed in triangular formation, swivel casters attached to the termini of the said leg means, slotted transverse recesses on the top surface of the said platform, hinged extensions secured in the said recesses adapted to be extended to increase the width of the said platform for supporting a greater "number of pieces'of luggage, the said leg means at its point of articulation beingprovided with knee means, and auxiliary spring means anchored to the said bracket means and-to the-said knee means adapted to maintain "the said leg means in operative position and further adapted to maintain the said leg means in inoperative position.

5. Collapsible and extendible luggage carrier means, comprising a luggage supporting platform, a pair of adjustable straps secured adjacent each end of the said platform and adapted to encircle and confine luggage of varied dimensions, leg supporting bracket means secured to the bottom of the said platform, telescopic leg means articulately "secured to the said bracket means and arranged to diverge outwardly from the center of the said base and disposed in triangular formation, and swivel casters attached to the termini of the said leg means, slotted transverse recesses on the top surface of the said platform, hinged extensions secured in the said recesses adapted to be extended to increase the width of the said platform for supporting a greater number of pieces of luggage, the said leg means at its point of articulation being provided with knee means, and auxiliary spring means anchored to the said bracket means and to the said knee means adapted to maintain the said leg means in operative position and further adapted to maintain the said leg means in inoperative position.

6. Collapsible and extendible luggage carrier means, comprising a luggage supporting platform, a pair of adjustable straps secured adjacent each end of the said platform and adapted to encircle and confine luggage of varied dimensions, leg supporting bracket means secured to the bottom of the said platform, leg means articulately secured to the said bracket meansv and arranged to diverge outwardly from thecenter of the said base and disposed in triangular formation, swivel casters attached to the termini of the said leg means, spring clip means secured adjacent the central portion of the said platform and adapted to releasably maintain the said leg means in collapsed position, slotted transverse recesses on the top surface of the said platform, hinged extensions secured in the said recesses adapted to be extended to increase the width of the said platform for supporting a a means, comprising a luggage supporting platform, a pair of adjustable straps secured adjacent each end of the said platform and adapted to encircle and confine luggage of varied dimensions, leg supporting bracket means secured to the bottom of the said platform, telescopic leg means articulately secured to the said bracket means and arranged to diverge outwardly from the center of the said base and disposed in triangular formation, swivel casters attached to the termini of the said leg means, spring clip means secured adjacent the central portion of the said platform and adapted to releasably maintain the said leg means in collapsed posi tion, slotted transverse recesses on the top surface of the said platform, hinged extensions secured in the said recesses adapted to be extended to increase the width of the said platform for supporting a greater number of pieces of luggage, the said leg means at its point of articulation being provided with knee means, and auxiliary spring means anchored to the said bracket means and to the said knee means adapted to maintain the said leg means in operative position and further adapted to maintain the said leg means in inoperative position.

EDWARD G. KUDA.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,286,298 Halliburton Dec. 3, 1918 2,433,356 French Dec. 30, 1947 2,553,659 Lazell et a1. May 22, 1951 2,562,686 Altemus July 31, 1951 2,596,986 Curtis May 20, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 11,364/33 Australia Feb. 15, 1933 

